Railway track and method of forming the same



F. A. LUNDAHL RAILWAY TRACK AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed April 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 8, 1928.

F. A. LUNDAHL RAILWAY TRACK AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed April 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 adapt the track for use in connection with ill Patented Ma s, 1928.-

unirs D S A 5 FREDERICK A. LUNDAHL, 0R EAST MOLINELILLINOISL RAILWAY TRACK AND METHOD or FORMING THE AME.

Application fll ed April 26,

This invention relates to railway tracks and method offforming the same. 1

An ob'ect of this invention is'to provide a miniature railway track of internal formation, including crossties'and railsyfor use in connection with 'toy vehicles having flanged wheels adapted to cooperate with the rails'of said track, and more particularly for use in connection with atoy' vehicleof the character disclosed in my companion ap plication filed of even date herewith;

7 Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide a novel process of making iaxtrack of:

the above charactenUwhich consists in cutting out an elongated plate ofheavyfi'gauge the material at intervals between the rails and on the outer sides thereof to provide crossties, and bending themarginal-edges of said crossties to provide achannel-shaped formation. Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of track sections of the character above referred to, together with IlOVGl'lHGLDS for connectingindividual sections in such a manner as to aline the rails thereof and rigidly and detachably connect' the track sections in 'a simple and elfective manner. i T

Still another object of the invention is to provide a track of integral inetallic formation, wherein the crosstics project outwardly beyond the rails, in conjunction with a continuous thirdor conducting rail which may be secured'to the projecting ends of the cross ties and "insulatedtherefrom, to

toys which are propelled by electricity.

Other and further objects of the in'vention will more clearly and fully appear claims hereina from the description and after following. 7

In the-drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a track section after the same has been stampedor pressed to provide parallel longitudinal corrugations, and in dicating in dottedlines the portions which will be cut out to provide the crossties. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a plurality of sections of the track after the crossties and rails have been shaped to the 192s. seriai to. 104,549.

required form and showing the means for detachably; connecting the two sections togetheiui: Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the track sections shown in Fig. 2, and disclos ing. the means for effecting connection be; J

,4 is i a c substantially upon the line tl of F ig.2."

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of alinem'ent and juncture between the two track sections. Fig. 6Qis an enlai'ged perspective view of the latch whichcooperates with the'coimecting plate to secure the parts imposition; Fig. 7 is a top plan view ota track section 'ofacharacter similar to that disclosed in FigsQ; 3 and 4, showing the track section providedwit-li a third or conducting rail insulated from the track proper. *Ai id'Fig; 8 isa sectional view substantially uponthe line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

The hereindescribed process of making an integral track-including rails and cross ties consists in cutting out an elongated plate of heavy gauge sheet metal, common in commercial use of suitable width and length, and introducing said plate into a: suitable rugations indicated in Fig. l at9-9. it not being thought tobe necessary to illustrate the particular character of dies necessary to produce the corrugations as dies for producing corrugations are well known and Inv may hemade up readily as required; this connection, the corrugations may be formed separately by two portions of a die having means for makingasingle corrugation, f or may be. formed 'by a die having inea-ns for formingthe two corrugations success vely, that is, one corrugation should be completely fori'ne dbefore the other is begun, because if the two corrugations are madesimultaneously themetal may be torn,

although in certain grades of metal used the same, be drawn to the desired extent so rugations either separately by separatedies,

i or successively by the same die, it shouldbe which afford the channel formation, the

understood that the two corrugations could be formed simultaneously with certain grades of metal which can be drawn to the desired extent without tearing. The blank thus corrugated is then cut out upon the dotted lines shown in Fig. 1 by a suitable press so as to provide a series of transversely extending substantially rectan' gular cut out portions between the rails spaced apart a suitable distance" to provide material for the crossties indicated at 1010, and to provide extensions of the crossties at the outer sides of the rails as indicated at 11'11, the 'cut out portions 10 and 11 preferably being, made simultaneously.

lne crossties are then formed in channel shape by bending the longitudinal marginal edgesof the portions 10 in a direction oppositeto thejrails, and the side and end mar ginaledges of the extensions 11 are also bent in the same manner, "this operation being accomplished by suitable shaping dies, either simultaneously with the cutting out process. or separately if desired, it being notedrthat a slight excess of material is provided as indicated at 12 in the corners or the cutout portions, and the outer ends of the extensions 11 have their corners rounded oii as indicated at 18. By providing the excess of metal'indicated at 12, when the portions 10 of the ties are formed, there is no tearing of thematerial due to bending of the marginal edges; and by roundingoff,

the outer corners of the extensions 11 an excess of metal after the extension has been formed is avoided.

The tracksection which is produced by the above described process comprises the channel-shaped crossties 14 having bent flanges 15 on the marginal edges thereof crosst-ies 14 terminating adjacent the base of the corrugations 16;16, providing thepar allel rails, and the extensions li -+17 which have marginal flanges 18 providing the channel formation. The corrugations 16 16 are pressed into the metal so as toextend to one side of the main plane of the track and said corrugations intersect the crossties shown, said cro-ssties, extensions and rails being all integrally formed.

In order to provide means for connecting a plurality of track sections of the character above described, the following arrangement is utilized. One of the track sections is provided with a connecting plate 20 having a flat elongated member 21 provided with lateral extensions 2222, which are spaced apart a distance to coincide with the distance between the corrugations 1616 of the track section, the lateral extensions having upturned longitudinally extending flanges 22% which are adapted to fit'within the corrugations to provide a connecting web at 'upturnedlugs i2t 2efeach of said lugs being provided-with an aperture as indicated at 25. Th e me mber Ql isot such size as to fit snugly within the flanges 1515, and flanges 18 of the crosstie at the end of the track "section, the flanges on the lateral incinbers 22 extending within the corrugations 16%16, which are cut" oftoutwarg lly from the end tie 19, preterably'at'a distanceaps proximately one-halfthe distance between the ties. Thelateral portions 22 extend heneath the cut-offportions of the adjacent track section and the elongatedimember 23 isfitted within the flanges on .the' end tie 27 adjacent the end of the related/track section. v

The portion 210i the connecting member is preferablysecured to thetie 1.9; by means of. spotwelding, while the portion 230i the connecting member detachablyfits within the end;,'crosstie 270i the -iadjacent section of. the track. Thecrosstie 2711s provided. with spaced apertures 28 28 adapted for the reception of, the lugs Q l-Qd, said lugs. projecting above. the, upper surface of the crosstie 27, of, the adjacent track section. Pivotally -mounted= intermediate its ends upon the upper surface of the crosstie27iis a latch 29,, said latchbeing provided with oppositely extending ilatching, portions 30e-30adaptedto be inserted into the apertures 25 of thelugs 24, each of the latching portions 30 being slightly beveledor wedge shaped as'indiicated at 31Qjs'o asfto, effect a tight connection to prevent accidentalwithdrawal of the wedging portions 80 ,andto secure the parts tightly together, i

A slightly di'fii'erent embodiment. of the inventionis illustrated in Figs. 7 'and8, said embodiment including track sections of. the identical character above described, but such track scctionsghave associated therewith a third rail toadapt the track for use in connection with vehicles propelled byelectricity. In saidembodiment, a third or con tinuous conducting rail 31 is provided, said rail having laterally extending securing plates 82 by which the same may be secured; to the extensions 33 upon the track. proper. The securing plates 32 upon the third rail31 are spaced ap'artsuch a distance thatithey occur about every fourth tieoot the track proper, the rail resting upon a pad ofinsulating material 34: disposed upon the upper surface otthe'extension of the track proper, an insulating pad 3'5being also ,provided on the'under surface of the extension and a ol 6. x ndsi hro gh,the securingplate 32 and throughfthe openingiin ol theinsulating pads 34 and 35.

While I have herein described whatI' now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate allchanges and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. A'method of making an integral track section comprisingcrossties and rails, consisting in cutting out an elongated blank of sheet metal, forming longitudinally extending parallel corrugations in said blank to provide rails, and forming transversely arranged crossties in said blank by cutting out the metal thereof at pie-determined points.

The method of making an integral track, comprising crossties and rails, consisting in cutting out an elongated sheet metal blank, embossing longitudinally ex tending parallel corrugations in said blank to provide rails, and forming crossties which extend between said rails and outwardly of said rails by cut-ting out the metal of the blank at predetermined intervals.

3. A method. of making an integral track section comprising crossties and rails, consisting in cutting out an elongated blank of sheet metal, forming longitudinally extend- [ill ing parallel corrugations in said blank to provide rails, and forming transversely arranged crossties in said blank by cutting out the metal thereof atpredetermined points, and bending the marginal edges of said crossties in a direction away from the rails to provide a substantially channel forma- 'tion. r

4-. The method of making an integral track of sheet metal consisting in cutting out an elongated blank of material; cutting out portions of said blank to provide crossties, and bending the marginal edges of said crossties to form each of said crossties in channel shape.

5. The method of making pressed metal tracks of integral construction consisting in cutting out a sheet of metal to define longitudinal extending rail portions and cross members arranged on both sides of said rail portions; and bending the marginal. edges of said cross members to form each into channel shape.

6. As an article of manufacture,anintegral metallic track section having spaced,

longitudinally extending parallel corrugations providing rails, the material between said rails being cut out to-provide crossties.

7. As an article of manufacture, an integral track section comprising spaced, longitudinally extending corrugationsproviding rails and aligned spaced out out portions between said rails and outwardly of said rails to provide crossties.

8. As an article of manufacture, an integral track section coniprising spaced, longitudinally extending corrugations providing rails and aligned spaced cutout portions between said rails and outwardly of said rails to provide crossties, said crossties'being channel-shapedincross section.

9. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of metallic track sect-ions of connecting means secured toone of said sections andprovided with elements adapted to register with means upon another of said sections to aline the meeting ends of the rails oi said track sections; and

mechanism for rigidly but detachably sethe registering means of said track curing sections. 7

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with aplurality of metallic track sections; of connecting means secured to one of said sections and provided with spaced elements adapted to register with means upon another of said sections to aline the meeting ends ofthe rails olv said track sections; and mechanism for rigidly but de-. tachably securing the registering means of said track sections, said means being in the form of a double ended latch pivotally secured. to said other section and adapted to simultaneously engage the spaced elements of said first section.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality oftrack sections, each of which includes spaced, longitudinally extending parallel rails, and

channel-shaped crossties; of a connecting member including elongated portions dis posed in the end crossties of ad acent .sec

tions, and having lateral connecting members spaced apart a: distance corresponding to the distance between said rails, said con necting member being rigidly secured to one of said track sections and having extensions detachably engaged in apertures in the other of said track sections; and a double ended latch pivotally mounted on said other track section and having engaging portions adapt ed to engage in apertures in the projections on said connecting member.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a plurality of track sections, each of which includes spaced, longitudinal extending parallel rails, and channel-shaped crossties; of a connecting member including elongated portions disposed in the end crossties of'adjacent sections, and having lateral connecting members'spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between said rails, said connecting member being rigidly secured to one of said u, track sections and having extensions detachably engaged in apertures in the other of said-track sect-ions; and a double ended'latch tending outwardly beyond one of said rails; and a third conducting rail mounted on the outwardly extending portions and insulated therefrom. I e

15. A metallic track section having spaced longitudinally extending parallel corrugations providing rails, the material between said rails being cut out to provide cross ties, and a rail of conducting material extending substantially parallel with the corrugations providing the rails and secured to said cross ties and insulated therefrom.

In itness that I claiinthe foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 145 day of ApriLiQQfi. i

FREDERICK A. LUNDAl-IL. 

